Tropical paradise that no one visits, says UN tourism group

A small nation in the South Pacific — by many standards the epitome of a tropical paradise — has topped a poll as the least visited place in the world.

A collection of nine idyllic islands sitting roughly halfway between Australia and Hawaii, Tuvalu welcomed just 2,000 tourists in 2016, according to a report by the UN World Tourism Organization. That was up from a paltry 1,000 in 2014. Its nearest neighbour in the South Pacific, Kiribati, did considerably better — hosting a total of 5,000 visitors last year.

With a warm climate and low crime rate, Tuvalu has a thinly spread population of 10,000 (again based on UN estimates) and boasts empty, palm-fringed beaches and a strong traditional culture.

It’s also a highly regarded diving destination, with the main island of Funafuti offering calm waters perfect for exploring marine life.

Accommodation ranges from self-catering apartments to guest houses.

The UN has warned, however, that Tuvalu could disappear entirely over the next century due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. It’s just not cricket. A British man has ripped into the country’s national carrier because he was double-charged after asking for an extra-strong cup of tea.

The unnamed passenger, from Lancaster, England, said he was shocked when he was asked to cough up the additional fee while travelling with British Airways.

“Flying to Oslo with BA on expensive tickets, my son and I asked for strong cups of tea,” he told The Spectator.

“We were told we had to pay double as they sold it by the tea bag. Was I right to be shocked?”

The airline said it sells tea on its shorthaul services in a disposable cup, with bag attached, and is happy to provide free refills of hot water.

“As a British airline, we understand how important the perfect cup of tea is,” a spokesman stated.

“We don’t always get everything right but we listen to customers so that we can meet changing preferences.”

The carrier has come under fire recently for allegedly sacrificing service despite charging higher fares than its rivals.

In 2016, it eliminated complimentary drinks and meals on short-haul flights in favour of department-store sandwiches and a “signature blend” tea developed by Twinings.